Liu Peng Shuai has been on the ONE Championship roster since 2016. He has only fought for the promotion intermittently and steps into the circle for the sixth time next week.
At ONE: ‘Battleground’ Part II which is being broadcast on Friday he faces Eko Roni Saputra. It will be his second fight in succession against an opponent from Evolve MMA and he wants to avenge his recent defeat to Roshan Mainam.
“I really take this as revenge. I truly want to win this time and get a score (for) China against Evolve.”
Patriotic spirit
With the Olympics concluding and China on track to top the medal table Shuai appears to be getting into the patriotic spirit. But he knows beating Saputra, who like Mainam has a wrestling background, will not be easy,
“I’ve been watching my opponent for a very long time, and I know he’s a great wrestler and a great grappler. He’s an upcoming star. I respect him a lot, but I’m also very prepared for this fight.”
Shuai’s three ONE Championship wins have all come inside the distance. He has finished opponents with both strikes and submissions but feels the former will be his biggest weapon against Saputra,
“When it comes to speed, precision, and everything else, I don’t think his striking is better than mine. Striking is my advantage for this upcoming fight against him.”
Condition and volume
Having finished Saputra’s compatriot Elipitua Siregar with just 45 seconds remaining in the final round at ONE: ‘Clash of Legends’ he is understandably confident in his endurance. The 25 year old feels that this will be his ‘biggest advantage’ against the Indonesian,
“I would say the third round because he might be very powerful and strong, but my biggest advantages are my condition and my volume,” Liu offers.
Saputra has never been beyond the first round. All five of his fights to date have finished inside the first five minutes and Shuai clearly thinks he will fade down the stretch.
If the Chinese flyweight can survive the first round onslaught he is very confident that he will be able to overwhelm his opponent in the closing stages of the fight,
“When it comes to the third round, I will be the stronger man.”
